Mechanism for withdrawing and winding yarn in spinning units

ABSTRACT

An open end spinning machine including a yarn winding apparatus having a driven rotatable drum, a bobbin mounting frame movable toward and away from the drum so that the bobbin may be selectively driven and undriven. In accordance with the invention there is provided means, shown as hand operated, for raising the bobbin from the drum, and means for adjustably retaining the frame and bobbin in elevated position, preferably with the surface of the bobbin spaced only a small distance above the peripheral surface of the drum. Means, here shown as foot operated, is provided for releasing the frame, when desired, whereby it is lowered so that the bobbin again rest upon and is driven by the drum.

United States Patent Brazda, deceased et al. 1 1 June 6, 1972 [54]MECHANISM FOR WITHDRAWING 3,012,734 12/1961 Goodhue et a1. ..242/39 ANDWINDING YARN IN SPINNING 3,51 1,045 5/1970 Bures et a1. 57/5835 X U ITS3,462,936 8/1969 Boucek et a1... .....57/80 1,655,154 1/1928 McKean.242/18 [72] Inventors: Ladislav Brazda, deceased, late of Cerveny3,455,097 7/ 1969 Rajnoha 57/5895 Kostelec, Czechoslovakia by Drahuska2,743,061 4/1956 Kingsbury ,,.242/ 18 do a and Dagmar Brazdova. heirs;1,652,787 12/1927 McCallister. ...242/18 Miloslav Prochazka, Nachod,Czechoslovakia; Vladimir Kuhn, Velke FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS v308,759 5/1929 Great Britain ..242/37 R y 815,649 7/1959 Great Britain...242/18 DD [73] Assi nee: Elitex, Zavd textilniho Stro'irenstvi 530,811 12/1940 Great Britain ..242/18 8 y .I generalni reditelstui, Liberec,

Czechoslovakia Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins Filed Mar 9 1970AttorneyArthurO. Klein [21] App]. No.: 17,737 [57] ABSTRACT An open endspinning machine including a yarn winding ap- [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data paratus having a driven rotatable drum, a bobbin mountingframe movable toward and away from the drum so that the 1969Czechoslovaha 1695-69 bobbin may be selectively driven and undriven. Inaccordance with the invention there is provided means, shown as handoperated, for raising the bobbin from the drum, and means for 58} Field57/58 89 58 78 80 129 adjustably retaining the frame and bobbin inelevated position, 5 preferably with the surface of the bobbin spacedonly a small distance above the peripheral surface of the drum. Means,here shown as foot operated, is provided for releasing the [56]Reierences cued frame, when desired, whereby it is lowered so that thebobbin n- STATES PATENTS again rest upon and is driven by the drum.

2,825,118 3/1958 Soussloff et 1.57/84 X 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 7 31 1 1 a? 1 L 9L 9 5 6 9 11 aw J 5% l I l {11525 l l 1 27 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l1 1 1 l J 27 PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 10F 5 IN VENT PATENTEDJUH 6|9723.667, 205

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Lad/SAM BRA Z0 Vladimir KUH svj scf ZD/A IV ATTORNEY I MECHANISM FORWITHDRAWING AND WINDING YARN IN SPINNING UNITS The present inventionrelates to a device for controlling take-up bobbins in open end spinningmachines. The control device of the invention is particularly usefulwith spinning machines of the pressure spinning chamber type, althoughit is obviously not limited thereto.

Spinning machines of the type mentioned above usually process sliversdeposited in spinning cans, or manufacture fine yarns from a thin sliveror a thick roving. The final product, i.e. the yarn thus manufactured,is usually wound on to cylindrical or conical bobbins in a mannersimilar to that in winding machines. The dimensions of these bobbinsdepend on the construction of the take-up mechanism and, if saiddimensions are satisfactory, the thus wound bobbins can be used directlyduring further processing. Modem winding machines, however, are alsoprovided with yarn clearers which remove yam slubs as well as otherdefects which are undesirable in the further processing of the yarn,e.g. by weaving or knitting. As far as cleanliness of yarn is concerned,yarns produced in open end spinning machines usually show goodproperties from that viewpoint; however, the occurrence of slubs such asknots due to the manual removing of yarn breakage is not eliminated.

In presently known machines the take-up bobbins may be mounted either inthe upper or in the lower part of the machine. The bobbin is rotatablydriven either by means of a continuous take-up cylinder and independentyarn distributors, or directly by a winding drum. Upon removing yarnbreakage, the bobbin holder is swung by the attendant from the take-upcylinder or the winding drum into a fixed rest position and the yarnendfrom the wound bobbin is then introduced into the spinning unit. Theattendant must react immediately, after the catching-up of the yarn endin the spinning unit, to drive the take-up bobbin by bringing it intocontact with the take-up cylinder or the winding drum. The path alongwhich the take-up bobbin has to be swung from its rest to its operativeposition is rather long, particularly when the diameter of the take-upbobbin is small, thus causing a yarn end which is too long to beintroduced into the spinning chamber, and thereby subjecting such end totoo long a spinning. The elements needed for this operation are alsoinconveniently positioned, so that the attendants reaction is undulydelayed. This causes, in turn, a longer time than should be necessaryfor removing the yarn breakage, and results in a lower quality of themanufactured yarn.

The device according to the present invention has the purpose tomitigate the disadvantages inapparatus known hitherto, particularly byaccelerating the removal of yarn breakage and thus simultaneouslyimproving the quality of the manufactured yarn.

The advantages of the device according to the present invention are thatit is of simple construction, is reliable in its operation, andsubstantially improves the performance of the attendant when removingyarn breakage. The last result is achieved by enabling the attendant tolift the wound bobbin at any winding diameter for only the minimumdistance which is necessary to disengage the bobbin from the drivingcylinder or the winding drum, and to drop said bobbin, upon removingyarn breakage, immediately into its working position in drivingengagement with the cylinder or drum. In the device according to thepresent invention, the bobbin holder is connected by means of aconnecting element with a control mechanism which selectively securesthe bobbin holder in a swung-out position, the control mechanism beingprovided with a releasing lever for returning the bobbin holder with thewinding into the working position.

Further features of the device according to the present invention andits various embodiments are specified in the following description andshown in form of exemplary embodiments in the accompanying drawings, ofwhich F161 is a schematic view, partially in elevation and partially invertical section of an arrangement of the device according to thepresent invention in a first embodiment of spinning machine;

FIG.2 2 is a similar view of an arrangement of the device according tothe present invention on a second embodiment of spinning machine;

FIG.3 is a view of a first embodiment of the device accorddeviceaccording to the present invention, the view being par tially in sideelevation andpartially in section; and

FIG.7 is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of the device accordingto the present invention, the view being partially in side elevation andpartially in section.

Spinning machines of the type mentioned above consist of a plurality ofidentical spinning units, of which each is provided with the deviceaccording to the present invention. It is thus necessary to describeonly one spinning unit in each of its modifications shown herein.

In FIG] the control mechanism of the present invention is shown appliedto a system wherein yarns 4 are produced from a plurality of slivers 26.Such slivers are withdrawn from a plurality of spinning cans 27 andintroduced into spinning units 5 which are of the type having a spinningchamber which operates under pressure. Yarn delivered from the spinningunits through tubes shown at the upper ends'thereof are pulled upwardlyby feeding rolls 9,9 and are then delivered to a drum or cylinder 3which drives a bobbin 1 being wound; the drum or cylinder 3 is providedwith means (not shown) whereby the yarn is laid upon the bobbin as bybeing crosswound thereon. The bobbin 1 is rotatably mounted upon a framewhich is shown pivotally mounted at 2a whereby the frame and bobbin mayrise as the diameter of the bobbin progressively increases. The bobbinshown at the left rests upon and is being driven by the drum 3; thebobbin la at the right is shown as having been lifted by its supportingframe from driving engagement with its cylinder 3, as during the removalof a yarn breakage.

The bobbin-supporting frames are provided with levers or arms 2 at theirouter ends whereby the bobbins and frames may be lifted into theposition shown at the right. The control device 6, (which is shown moreparticularly in FIGS.3 and 4) includes a rod 7 which is pivotallymounted to the bobbin-supporting frame and which maintains the frame andbobbin in their elevated position as shown at the right in FIG. 1. Thecontrol device 6 is also provided with a foot operated pedal 8 wherebythe rod 7 may be released when'desired so that the frame and bobbin maybe lowered into operative position.

In FIG.2 the control mechanism 6 is shown applied to a system whereinyarns 4 are produced from rovings supplied by bobbins 29 positionedabove the spinning units 5. As shown, the rovings 28 travel downwardlyfrom their supply bobbins into the spinning units 5, yarns 4 producedtherefrom then travelling downwardly and finally upwardly to abobbin-supporting and driving drum or cylinder 3, as in FIG.1. Thecontrol mechanisms 6 in FIG.2 have the same relationship with respect tothe bobbin-supporting frames and the driving cylinders3asin FIGJ.

In the embodiment of control mechanism 6 shown in FIG.3, there isemployed a stationary yoke 12, mounted on the machine frame and providedwith a horizontal pivot pin 11 on which an arm 10 is swingably mounted.The arm 10 has a flange on its upper end, such flange having an openingtherethrough receiving the rod 7 which, as we have seen, is

pivotally connected at its upper end to the frame which supportsbobbin 1. Hanging upon the pivot pin 11 is a generally inverted V-shapedleaf spring 13, one leg of the leaf spring bearing against thestationary yoke 12 and the other bearing against the lower end of therod 7. The spring 13 constantly urges the parts into the positionthereof shown in FIG.3, in

which the rod 7 has a secure clamping engagement with the hole in theflange at the top of member 10. When, however, the member 10 is swungcounterclockwise from its position in 1 16.3, as by 'a pedal 8, the rod7 may be moved freely with respect'to the member 10 so that the frameand the bobbin supported thereby may be lowered into its operativeposition. In FlG.3 the pedal 8 is shown as being about to be moved inthe downward position direction S, and the member 10 is shown as aboutto be swung in the counterclockwise direction s,.

The apparatus shown in FIGS." 1, 2 and 3 and abovedescribed functions asfollows:

' e The sliver 26 from the spinning cans 27 (FIGJ) or the roving 28 frombobbins 29 (FIG.2) is fed into the spinning unit 5, which manufactureyarn in a known manner. Yarn discharged from the spinning units 5 isfedupwardly by the cooperating withdrawing rollers 9, 9, the yarn thentravelling to the winding cylinder or drum 3 which both support thebobbin and the bobbin-supporting frame and drives the bobbin to take theyarn up thereon. When the bobbin is being driven the control mechanism 6is in its inoperative position, the weight of the bobbin and frame beingsustained, as above explained, by the winding drum 3.

',ln the case of yarn breakage, the feeding of yarn 4 to the bobbin 1 isinterrupted. It is now necessary to remove the yarn breakage-Theattendant swings the bobbin-supporting frame with the bobbinthereon'upwardly from the winding cylinder or drum 3 for only thatdistance which is necessary to remove the periphery of the bobbin fromdriving contact with the periphery of the drum- 3. He does this bygrasping the outer ends of the lever or levers 2 of the frame andlifting them upwardly. The control mechanism3, as we have seen, is aninfinitely adjustable gripping means which permits the rod 7 to befreely drawn upwardly against the opposition of spring'13 but preventsthe downward travel of the rod unless the control mechanism is releasedby the pedal 8. After the 'yarn breakage has been removed and the yarn 4is again presented to the winding cylinder or drum 3, the attendant,steps upon the pedal 8 thereby releasing the control mechanism 6 andpermitting the bobbin-supporting frame and the bobbin supported thereonto descend, whereby the bobbin 1 is again driven by the cylinder 3.Normal winding operations then go forward.

In some instances it may be desired to prevent a sudden contact of thetakeup bobbin 1 with the winding cylinder or drum 3, particularly whenthe distance between the periphery of the bobbin such as that shown atla at the right of FIGJ and the surface of the driving drum 3 isappreciable. For this purpose the control mechanism 6 of FlG.3 may bemodified to provide means for retarding the downward motion of the rod7. One such means is shown in FlGA wherein the control mechanism isdesignated 6. As there shown, a braking roller 14 is mounted on ahorizontal pivot pin on the member 10, the roller 14 being in contactwith the rear surface of the rod 7 upon the swinging of member 10outwardly by the pedal 8. Upon such a release of the clamping means inmechanism 6' the roller 14 engages the rod 7 so as to exert a brakingaction thereon, thereby slowing the descent of the bobbin and itssupporting frame. v

In 116.5 there is shown-a control mechanism 6a having a toothed segmentor bar 7a attached to one or more arms 2 of the bobbin-supporting frame.The radially outer surface of the segment 7a is coaxial of the pivotshaft 2a, and is provided with' a plurality of ratchet teeth as shown.The control mechanism 6a is completed by a pawl in the form of a bellcrank lever pivoted at its central zone on fixed structure (not shown).The pawl is constantly urged toward engagement with the gear teeth onthe segment 7a by a coil compression spring 15. 'The pawl is lifted fromoperative engagement with the I ratchet teeth by pressing downwardly inthe direction S upon a pedal secured to the outer arm 7a of thepawl-carrying member.

1n the control mechanism 6b of P106 an arcuate arm 7b is secured to alever arm 2 of the bobbinsupporting frame. The

outer surface of arm 7b is part-circular cylindrical, and is coaxial ofthe pivot shaft 2a. A selectively operable clamping mechanismcooperating with the member 7b takes the form of an eccentric 8c whichis pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 17 affixed to fixed framestructure. The eccentric has an arm 8b affixed thereto, the other end ofthe arm bearing a pedal. The arm is constantly urged in a clockwisedirection (FIG.6) by a coil compression spring 16 interacting therewith.The configuration of the eccentric 8c is such that as it is rotatedclockwise by the spring 16 a longer radius portion thereby is presentedto the rear arcuate surface of member 7b, thereby to clamp it. Upon thedepression of the arm 8b in the direction S, the eccentric 8c isreleased from the rear surface of the member 7b, thereby permitting thebobbin-supporting frame 7 and its bobbin to descend into operativeposition. It will be seen that a partial release of eccentric So bypedal 8b-will permit members 8c and 7b to function as abrake, thuspermitting the frame and bobbin to be lowered gently. I In FIG.7 thereis shown a fluid operated control mechanis 6d. The upper end of thepiston rod 7d is pivotally connected to the bobbin-supporting frame, asshown. The lower end of rod 7d carries a piston 18 which reciprocates ina vertically disposed cylinder 19 affixed to fixed frame structure, asshown. The cylinder 19 is disposed within an other larger cylindricaltank 22 which serves as a sump for the system, the sump in this instancecontaining an hydraulicfluid. The lower end of cylinder 19 is providedwith a selectively operated check valve 21 which permits liquid freelyto rise from the sump into the cylinder 19 but prevents escape of suchliquid from the cylinder unless the check valve 21 is opened. Aliquid-throttling sieve or screen 20 is afiixedly positioned in thelower end of cylinder 19 beneath the piston 18. The check valve 21 isoperated by a two-armed lever pivoted to fixed frame structure by apivot pin 17d. The first of inner arm. of such lever underlies theoperating stem for the check valve 21, the second outer arm of the leverhaving a pedal 8d on its outer end. It will be apparent that the checkvalve 21 is opened when the pedal 8b is depressed, and that the checkvalve 21 is closed by the light coil spring shown when no pressure isexerted upon the pedal 8d. The depressing of the lever is limited bystop 23 which cooperates therewith in a valveopen position, and with astop 24 which cooperates therewith in a valve-closed position.

The embodiment of the mechanism 6d shown in FlG.7'

operates as follows:

When the bobbin-supporting frame 2 and the bobbin I mounted thereon arelifted from operative cooperation with the winding cylinder 3, thepiston rod 7d moves upwardly with the frame. Upon the rising of thepiston 18, the greater height of liquid in the sump 22 causes the liquidto flow downwardly and then upwardly through the check valve 21, whichis then open because the pressure difierence overcomes the coil spring,into the cylinder 19. The cylinder 19 underneath the piston 18 is thenfilled with liquid, which is placed under compression when the attendantreleases the arm 2 of the frame, thereby supporting the frame and bobbinabove the cylinder 3 in the position shown in F IG.7. Upon the removalof the yarn breakage, the operator then steps upon pedal 8d after havingagain presented a yarn 4 to the drum 3. The depression of the pedal 8dopens the valve 21, thereby allowing liquid to flow from the lower endof the cylinder 18 into the sump 22. The frame and bobbin are thuslowered into their operating positions. It will be seen that not onlydoes the screen 20 prevent the intrusion of dirt thereabove into theportion of the cylinder 19 traversed by the piston, but that the screenthrottles the downward flow of fluid under pressure from beneath thepiston, thereby giving the mechanism 6d a dashpot effect, slowing thedescent of the bobbin and the frame toward the cylinder 3.

The mechanism 6d may be modified, should it be desired to employ a gassuch as air rather than a liquid therein. If atmospheric air is imployedthe sump 22 can be dispensed with. Upon the raising of thebobbin-supporting frame 2, air from the atmosphere is sucked into thelower end of cylinder 19 through the check valve 21. The check valve 21closes the lower end of the cylinder after the upward motion of thepiston 18 has stopped. The frame and bobbin continue to be supported bythe air cylinder 19 until the check valve 21 is opened by the depressingof the pedal 8d. As with liquid, the screen also acts as a meteringmeans for the flow of air therethrough, so that the descent of the frameand bobbin is slowed upon the opening of the valve 21.

Although our invention has been illustrated and described with referenceto the preferred embodiments thereof, we wish to have it understood thatit is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments but iscapable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an open end spinning machine including a yarn winding apparatushaving a driven rotatable drurn, a frame movable toward and away fromthe drum, means onthe frame rotatably mounting a bobbin being wound bysurface engagement with the drum as the bobbin is thrust toward thedrum, the improvement which comprises means for selectively moving thebobbin continuously and steplessly into a selected position away fromthe drum to stop the winding operation, means for retaining the framewith the peripheral surface of the bobbin in said selected positionspaced from the drum, and means for releasing the last named means sothat the frame approaches the drum and carries the bobbin into drivingengagement with the drum.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for selectivelymoving the bobbin away from the drum is positioned to be operated by thehand of an operator in a normal position, and the means for releasingthe frame retaining means is adapted to be operated by the foot of theoperator in substantially the same normal position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the frameand the bobbin mounted thereon are disposed above the drum, and thebobbin is held in its lowered position in driving engagement with thedrum by gravity.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the frame is pivotallymounted on a shaft disposed parallel to and substantially spaced fromthe axis of the drum.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the means for retaining theframe with the peripheral surface of the bobbin elevated above theperipheral surface of the drum is so constructed and arranged that theaxis of the bobbin may selectively be positioned at continuously varyingdistances from the axis of the drum.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for retaining theframe and bobbin elevated comprises a first, fixed member having a firstsurface and a second member movable with the frame and having a secondsurface selectively clampingly engaging the first surface in adjustedposition.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first and second surfacesengage each other in infinitely adjusted positions.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for retaining theframe with the peripheral surface of the bobbin elevated above theperipheral surface of the drum comprises a fluid check device having acylinder and a piston therein one of which is fixedly positioned and theother of which is connected to the frame mounting the bobbin.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fluid check deviceoperates with liquid, and comprising a selectively operated valve torelease liquid from between the piston and cylinder, and a sump fromwhich liquid passes into the cylinder and into which it flows from thecylinder.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising means for selectivelyretarding the descent of the frame and bobbin into their loweredposition wherein the bobbin drivingly engages the drum.

11. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for selectivelymoving the bobbin away from the drum and the means for releasing theframe retaining means are disposed generally in the same vertical plane,and one of said bobbin moving means and frame retaining releasing meansis disposed substantially above the other.

1. In an open end spinning machine including a yarn winding apparatushaving a driven rotatable drum, a frame movable toward and away from thedrum, means on the frame rotatably mounting a bobbin being wound bysurface engagement with the drum as the bobbin is thrust toward thedrum, the improvement which comprises means for selectively moving thebobbin continuously and steplessly into a selected position away fromthe drum to stop the winding operation, means for retaining the framewith the peripheral surface of the bobbin in said selected positionspaced from the drum, and means for releasing the last named means sothat the frame approaches the drum and carries the bobbin into drivingengagement with the drum.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein themeans for selectively moving the bobbin away from the drum is positionedto be operated by the hand of an operator in a normal position, and themeans for releasing the frame retaining means is adapted to be operatedby the foot of the operator in substantially the same normal position.3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the frameand the bobbin mounted thereon are disposed above the drum, and thebobbin is held in its lowered position in driving engagement with thedrum by gravity.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the frame ispivotally mounted on a shaft disposed parallel to and substantiallyspaced from the axis of the drum.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the means for retaining the frame with the peripheral surface ofthe bobbin elevated above the peripheral surface of the drum is soconstructed and arranged that the axis of the bobbin may selectively bepositioned at continuously varying distances from the axis of the drum.6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for retaining theframe and bobbin elevated comprises a first, fixed member having a firstsurface and a second member movable with the frame and having a secondsurface selectively clampingly engaging the first surface in adjustedposition.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first andsecond surfaces engage each other in infinitely adjusted positions. 8.Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for retaining theframe with the peripheral surface of the bobbin elevated above theperipheral surface of the drum comprises a fluid check device having acylinder and a piston therein one of which is fixedly positioned and theother of which is connected to the frame mounting the bobbin. 9.Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fluid check device operateswith liquid, and comprising a selectively operated valve to releaseliquid from between the piston and cylinder, and a sump from whichliquid passes into the cylinder and into which it flows from thecylinder.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising means forselectively retarding the descent of the frame and bobbin into theirlowered position wherein the bobbin drivingly engages the drum. 11.Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for selectively movingthe bobbin away from the drum and the means for releasing the frameretaining means are disposed generally in the same vertical plane, andone of said bobbin moving means and frame retaining releasing means isdisposed substantially above the other.